Principal Investigators are Robert Mickler, Assistant Technical Director from ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc.; Christopher Geron, Environmental Scientist from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Gary Achtemeier, Research Meteorologist from the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station; Sue Ferguson, Research Atmospheric Scientist from the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station; and Heather Cheshire from North Carolina State University Department of Forestry. David Brownlie, Fire Ecologist for the Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Bryan Henderson, Conservation and Analysis Element Leader from Seymour Johnson AFB; and Scott Smith, Installation Forester from Dare County Bombing Range, are serving as the federal cooperators for the projects. Tom Crews, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Fire Management Officer, will be in charge of the operational planning for the prescribed burns.

September's kick-off meeting was held to facilitate coordination between the principal investigators and land managers, acquaint them with the research area, and provide a forum for other parties interested in the research results. Representatives came from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corp, U.S. Army, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina State University, and University of North Carolina. Forty-two people attended the panel discussions on the first day that laid out agency policies, research interests, and desired outcomes. Day two was spent in the field touring the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Dare County Bombing Range looking at prescribed burn units and wildfire areas, fuel loading, bombing impact areas, and red-cockcaded woodpecker management areas. On day three, the principal investigators and local fire managers met to discuss logistics for conducting and monitoring the prescribed burns.

Principal Investigator Robert Mickler felt very optimistic with the projects after the kick-off meeting drew to a close. ?We have several top-quality researchers and federal land managers involved from across the country that will be able to bring so much to the projects. The logistics are a bit daunting with having to get everyone together when the weather gets just right, but I feel confident that the local operational folks and the researchers will be able to pull these burns off.? Fire Management Officer Tom Crews echoed Mickler's enthusiasm. ?I have been trying for several years to get more research done on pocosins, our dominant local fuel type. The benefits to fire management that we can gain from this study will help us to greatly advance our planning and burning efforts. I?m looking forward to accomplishing the first prescribed burn in the research project this winter.?